Afghan Boxer Sakina Haidarian Advances in Youth Olympic Qualifiers

Sakina Haidarian, Afghanistan's only representative at the World Boxing Future Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, has advanced to the second round. The under-19 event, running from March 8 to 15, 2026, serves as a qualifier for the Youth Olympic Games, scheduled for October 31 to November 13, 2026, in Dakar, Senegal.

Haidarian, competing in the women's -51kg category, received a bye in the first round after the draw and is set to face a Turkish opponent on March 10. According to the team leader, athletes from 77 countries are participating. Haidarian traveled from Australia at her own expense, without financial support from Afghanistan's Physical Education Administration or National Olympic Committee.

The Afghan Boxing Federation had announced four male boxers selected from national trials in Kabul involving 40 athletes from 11 provinces: Mojtaba Haidari (50kg), Tamim Faqiri (55kg), Ahmad Malekzadeh (65kg), and Fardous Najibi (80kg). None participated due to funding shortages. Federation officials cited budget constraints preventing travel costs, and the athletes lacked personal funds. No official explanation has been provided.

Some media reported financial issues and lack of support from sports authorities as the main reasons. The trials followed months of training for the global event.

The story coincides with International Women's Day on March 8. Since the government change in August 2021, women have been barred from sports in Afghanistan. An official stated at the time that sports are 'not necessary or suitable' for women and could lead to their bodies being seen. This resulted in cancellation of women's competitions, closure of gyms, dissolution of national women's teams, and bans on women in stadiums. Human rights organizations state all sports for women and girls have been prohibited since 2021, part of broader restrictions on education, work, and public presence.